First Camp Watcher.
'Tis of no avail. It availeth as little as thy belt. Afterward, in
standing upright, it is the more severe.
Second Camp Watcher.
How long is this to last?
First Camp Watcher.
Until the ships come--that is simple indeed.
Second Camp Watcher.
Yea, but when are the ships coming?
First Camp Watcher.
How can I know that? Look toward the heights. There, high upon the
Milchberg, there standeth the watch, and overlooketh the sea for twenty
miles. If he knoweth not! There, behind the Misenian hills, there they
must be coming.
Second Camp Watcher.
Verily, if the Byzantian let them pass.
First Camp Watcher.
The Byzantian hath no ships.
Second Camp Watcher.
The Byzantian hath so many ships that he can surround the whole Italian
world with them as with a hedge; as close as the Byzantian Eunuch hath
surrounded us, these seven weeks.
First Camp Watcher.
These seven weeks!
Second Camp Watcher.
Knowest thou what I got for nourishment, at noon this day? The same
rind of bacon on which I brake my teeth eight days ago. Forsooth, I had
cut my three crosses, with my knife. That was a meeting again! But
to-day, I devoured it ... a noble feast for a king's marriage day!
First Camp Watcher.
Think'st thou the King had more?
Second Camp Watcher.
And think'st thou we would suffer ourselves to be beaten to death,
suffer ourselves to be broken on the wheel, to be thrust through and
put to shame, if he had more than we? Think'st thou we would lie here
like chained dogs, and watch, did we not know that there is nothing to
watch?
First Camp Watcher.
There is gold enough.
Second Camp Watcher.
Gold! Pah, gold! Of gold I have enough myself. In my cellar at
Canusium, I have buried a treasure--eh! ... thou! The wives behind
there in the Wagenburg must have meat left ... wine too, they must
still have.
First Camp Watcher.
Yea, the wives are there well enough--thou hast none, I suppose.
Second Camp Watcher.
A Greek dishonoured mine, and I stabbed him to death! (_Pauses_.) Good!
The wives must have meat; they must have wine too. But how long that--
(_Noise and clash of weapons, slowly approaching_.) There, the marriage
is surely ended.
First Camp Watcher.
Silence! There cometh the aged Ildibad--with the King's shield. (_Both
put themselves on guard_.)
_SECOND SCENE_.
THE SAME. Ildibad.
Ildibad.
(_Hangs the shield in its place, and puts away the weapons lying
about_.) Hath any news been sent down?
First Camp Watcher.
Nay!
Ildibad.
Are ye hungry?
Second Camp Watcher.
Oh, yea.
Ildibad.
Hunger is for women--mark ye that! And show not such dark faces to our
young Queen. That becometh not a marriage day.
_THIRD SCENE_.
_Surrounded by noisy people_, Teja _and_ Balthilda _have appeared in
front of the tent. They enter led by_ Bishop Agila. _Before them, two
choir-boys swinging censers. Behind them_, Amalaberga, Euric,
Athanaric, Theodemir, _and other lords and military leaders. The tent
covers are let down. Exeunt the watchers_.
(Bishop _lets go the hands of the bridal pair, and turns back to_
Amalaberga.)
(Teja _stands gloomy and brooding_. Balthilda _casts a shy imploring
look around her. Painful silence_.)
Ildibad (_softly_).
Now must thou say something, King, to welcome thy young wife.
Teja (_softly_).
Must I? (_Taking one of the choir-boys by the nape of the neck_.) Not
so vehemently, boy; the smoke cometh up into our nostrils. What dost
thou when thou wieldest not thy censer?
Boy.